Digital Commons Network^™

Facile Fabrication Of Protein-Polysaccharide Conjugate Multifilament Nerve Guidance Conduit For Peripheral Nerve Regeneration, Preethy Amruthavarshini R

Theses and Dissertations

Long segmental defects in peripheral nerves impair sensory and motor function by disrupting neural impulse transmission. End-to-end autologous grafting with proper fascicular complementation has demonstrated functional recovery per the Medical Research Council Classification (MRCC). However, obtaining donor nerve tissue exceeding 30 mm remains a significant challenge. Artificial hollow conduits serve as an alternative but are limited to defects smaller than 30 mm due to inadequate innervation across the lumen.

Multichannel nerve guidance conduits (mNGCs) have emerged as a promising solution by enhancing fascicular complementation similar to autografts. This study presents a two-step approach for fabricating nerve conduits with precise fascicular …

In Silico Investigations Of Class Ii Trans Activator (Ciita): Its Plausible Implications In Neuroinflammation And Neurological Disorders, Kishore N

Theses and Dissertations

Inflammation plays a significant role in maintaining homeostasis. Neuroinflammation is a chronic inflammatory response in the central nervous system (CNS), leading to brain or spinal cord dysfunction. To promote mental health, it is crucial to understand the regulation of neuroinflammation. Class II transactivator (CIITA) is a master-regulator of the major histocompatibility complex II (MHCII).

Modulation of CIITA has been suggested as a promising intervention for inflammatory conditions, including neurological disorders. However, there is limited knowledge about the role of CIITA and its interactors in inflammation. This study aimed to understand the role of CIITA in neuroinflammation and neurological disorders using …

3d Bioprinting On Electrospun Nanofibrous Scaffolds To Fabricate Myocardial Patches, Muthu Parkkavi S

Theses and Dissertations

Tissue-engineered three-dimensional (3D) myocardial patches offer superior and innovative treatment strategy for myocardial infarction (MI). Among the various scaffold fabrication techniques, electrospinning and 3D bioprinting have received great attention due to their ability to recreate native cardiac tissue mimetic characteristics. Despite several advantages, electrospun nanofibers have limitations in cell delivery due to random cell seeding, while bioprinting faces challenges in creating hydrogel constructs with ideal mechanical properties capable of supporting cardiac contraction/relaxation cycle. Hence in this work, hybrid myocardial patches were developed by converging electrospinning and bioprinting techniques.

Electrospinning of PLCL:PEOz (B73, 7:3 blend of poly-L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone (PLCL) and polyethyl oxazoline …

Effect Of Osmolytes On The Interplay Of Water Protein And Dna In Ecori Dna Recognition Using Molecular Dynamics Simulations, Aathithya D

Theses and Dissertations

EcoRI is a type II restriction endonuclease that has been widely used as a model system to study protein-DNA interaction owing to its high degree of specificity. This enzyme does not recognize even a single basepair change in its recognition sequence, (GAATTC)2, under normal conditions. However, in the presence of osmolytes, such as glycerol and DMSO, the specificity of EcoRI is slightly relaxed and recognizes sequences that differ from its cognate sequence in the first basepair position. This relaxed specificity has been attributed to the dehydration of the EcoRI-DNA which presumably results in tighter complex formation and subsequent catalysis. However, …

Impact Of Ionic Liquids On The Treatment Of Various Derivatives Of Prosopis Juliflora For Removing Toxic Pollutants From Wastewater, Karthikeyan A

Theses and Dissertations

Water resources are increasingly contaminated by toxic pollutants, particularly industrial effluents, posing significant environmental concerns. Addressing the toxicity of these pollutants, especially those released from textile industries, presents challenges due to their harmful effects on living organisms. Various treatment methods are employed to mitigate this issue, including coagulation, flocculation, membrane filtration, photocatalytic degradation, adsorption, anaerobic processes, and chemical oxidation. Among these, adsorption emerges as an effective and economical method due to its minimal secondary contamination, negligible sludge production, and the use of inexpensive agricultural and marine waste materials.

This study examines the ability of Prosopis juliflora treated with imidazolium-based ionic …

Ai Based Early Detection Of Hormonal Imbalance And Poly-Cystic Ovary Syndrome In Young Women, Reka S

Theses and Dissertations

A hormonal disorder, Poly-Cystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) usually affects women during the reproductive age. It is characterised by imbalances in hormones, particularly a rise in the female body's androgen level (male hormone) and enlarged ovaries with small cysts. PCOS can cause ovarian cysts, weight gain, acne, excessive hair growth, insulin resistance, and irregular menstrual cycles along with other health problems. While the exact origin of PCOS is uncertain and its symptoms are unclear, diagnosing PCOS in real-world conditions is a difficult task. Therefore, prompt and precise PCOS diagnosis is essential for efficient treatment and for averting long-term issues.

Clinicians typically …

Biogenic Calcite Precipitation For Coastal Sand Stabilization: A Synergistic Approach Using Marine Bacteria And Natural Fibers, Aparna Gs

Theses and Dissertations

Coastal erosion, driven by natural forces such as waves, tides, winds, and currents and further intensified by anthropogenic activities like urbanization, climate change, and coastal infrastructure development, poses a significant threat to shoreline stability. Conventional erosion control methods, including jetties, embankments, and artificial reefs, often face limitations in sustainability and effectiveness. In this context, microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP) has emerged as a promising ecofriendly solution for ground stabilization.

The present study investigates the potential of an indigenous ureolytic marine bacterium, Bacillus sp. N₉, isolated from the coastal sediments of Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu, for coastal sand stabilization. The strain was …

Bioprospecting Of Wheat Straw Pyrolysis Aqueous Phase To Combat Multi-Drug Resistant Pathogens, Srividhya K

Theses and Dissertations

Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) significantly contribute to the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), primarily through the contamination of high-touch surfaces. Current disinfectants have drawbacks like high environmental persistence, ecotoxicity, and resistance development, prompting the need for environmentally friendly alternatives.

One potential approach is pyrolysis, during which the biomass components are broken down into solid, liquid, and pyro-gas. The aqueous phase of the liquid fraction is usually discarded as waste, but it contains a variety of organic compounds that have the potential for antibacterial and antifungal activity. The present study assessed the anti-infective and anti-biofilm properties of wheat straw pyrolysis …

Design And Investigation Of Deep Eutectic Solvent-Assisted Extractive Fermentation Of Biomolecules, Ramya M

Theses and Dissertations

The increasing demand for sustainable and efficient bioprocessing techniques has prompted the development of novel separation strategies integrating bioproduction with downstream processing. Extractive fermentation has emerged as a promising process intensification to overcome product inhibition and enhance productivity by constantly removing target biomolecules from the fermentation medium. Although the extractive fermentation of acids and alcohols has been extensively studied, less attention has been focused on green solvents and their compatibility, phase-forming abilities, and reactor configurations.

Therefore, advancing extractive fermentation technology necessitates comprehensive studies on solvent systems and the development of modified bioreactor configurations to aid future optimization. Initially, 22 DESs …

Fabrication Of Protein-Based Nanomicelle Against Inflamed Synoviocytes In Rheumatoid Arthritis, Madhumithra Thangadurai

Theses and Dissertations

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease marked by persistent synovial inflammation, progressive cartilage and bone destruction, and systemic complications. 1% of the global population are affected by RA, when their immune system targets synovial tissues, leading to joint pain, swelling, and functional disability. Standard treatments, such as disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) like methotrexate (MTX), are limited by systemic toxicity and inconsistent patient responses, highlighting the need for improved therapies. This research work explores protein-glycosaminoglycan nanomicelles engineered using Zein with Chondroitin or carboxymethylated Dextran Sulfate as targeted drug delivery vehicles for RA.

MTX was encapsulated within these nanomicelles to …

Metal-Organic Frameworks And Nanostructured Materials For Environmental Applications, Arunkumar G

Theses and Dissertations

The global population and economic development are experiencing rapid growth. Concurrently, environmental challenges such as global warming, soil, water, and air pollution are also rising. Each year, approximately 700,000 tonnes of products are generated from 100,000 tonnes of commercial dyes. Following their use, these dyes are often released into water bodies.

This contamination of water and land results in the formation of mutagenic and carcinogenic substances harmful to living organisms. Therefore, it is imperative to treat industrial wastewater to enable its recycling for various applications. Parallelly, the vehicles are becoming indispensable to human life modern world's urbanization and advancement.

The …

Dissolved And Particulate Nutrient Dynamics In The Northern Gulf Of Alaska: A Productive Subarctic Shelf Ecosystem, Emily Ortega

Oceanography

The Northern Gulf of Alaska (NGA) is a biologically productive system, culturally and economically sustaining Alaska’s coastal communities, with inorganic nutrients as an important foundation of this important food web. Nonetheless, seasonal cycles, interannual variability, and nutrient chemistry all influence nutrient dynamics, creating challenges in the overall understanding of the NGA ecosystem and the resources it provides. Therefore, this work examines nutrient sources, sinks, and trends over time and location to identify and explain key nutrient dynamics within the NGA. One key process is the exchange between dissolved (potentially bioavailable) and particulate nutrients that is examined in Chapters Two and …

Perspectives On Northern Gulf Of Alaska Freshwater Pathways, Wind, And Linkages To Phytoplankton Biomass, Isaac Reister

Oceanography

The biologically productive northern Gulf of Alaska continental shelf receives freshwater from surrounding watersheds and wind stress from atmospheric pressure systems. A better characterization of the relationship between wind and salinity spatiotemporal variability is important for understanding the fate of freshwater and its ecological importance. In Chapter 2, I analyzed 25 years of northern Gulf of Alaska hydrographic data to reveal mid-shelf and shelf­ break freshwater pathways that impact stratification, currents, and freshwater distribution. Process studies of the Copper River plume’s propagation towards the shelf-break and beyond inform ecological function on the northern Gulf of Alaska shelf and productivity in …

Optimal Control And Inverse Problems For Partial Differential Equations And Variational Inequalities, Olha Sus

Mathematics and Statistics

This dissertation addresses optimal control problems for nonlinear evolutionary variational inequalities involving Volterra-type operators and inverse problems for the Dirac system on finite metric graphs. The first part presents the historical background, novelty, and motivation behind the research studies. In the second part, we focus on solving the initial value problem for nonlinear evolutionary variational inequalities with Volterra-type operators, proving the existence of a unique solution using the Banach fixed-point theorem. The third part explores an optimal control problem for these inequalities, establishing the existence of a solution under specific assumptions on the given data. In the last part of …

An Investigation Of Ichthyophonus Infection Related In-River Mortality In Yukon River Chinook Salmon From Multiple Knowledge Systems: Indigenous, Local, And Western Science, Keith D. Herron

Fisheries

The recent historic low salmon returns in the Yukon River contribute to an ongoing humanitarian crisis for subsistence users and Indigenous Peoples with cultural and well-being ties to salmon. After over a decade of relative calm, the marine parasite Ichthyophonus has undergone a resurgence and is once again infecting Yukon River Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha; king; Taryaqvak; Ggaal; Gath; Łuk choo, hereafter referred to as king salmon) at high rates, with currently unknown consequences for survival of migrating adults. This thesis pairs multiple knowledge systems to assess the prevalence, severity, and impact of Ichthyophonus on adult Yukon River king salmon …

Post-Fire Riverscapes: Exploring The Ecological And Behavioral Responses Of Stream Communities To Wildfire In Boreal Streams, Elizabeth Geraldine Hinkle

Fisheries

Wildfire is the dominant disturbance in boreal forest ecosystems, and its frequency and severity are increasing with climate change. This dissertation examines how wildfire affects boreal stream habitats, food webs, and fish movement across spatial and temporal scales in interior Alaska. In Chapter 2, I compared burned and unburned streams 10 to 15 years post-fire using habitat survey, water chemistry, and aquatic community composition data. Burned sites had marginally significant lower canopy cover (-19.6%, p = 0.095), coarser substrate (+23.7 mm, p = 0.102), and higher macroinvertebrate abundance (626 ± 361 vs. 331 ± 349 individuals/m2, p = 0.03); fish …

Navigating The Psychosocial Landscape Of Ehlers–Danlos Syndrome: An Autobiographic Case Study, Jessica D. Locke, Jason T. Eastman

Sociology

Living with a rare disorder, such as Ehlers–Danlos Syndrome (EDS), presents unique psychosocial challenges. This autobiographical case study explores the psychological, social, and professional impacts of navigating life with hypermobile EDS (hEDS), a condition marked by chronic pain, joint instability, and diagnostic uncertainty. Placing personal experiences into the context of clinical findings and research, this study highlights both the physical and emotional toll of the syndrome, including stigma, isolation, and medical gaslighting often accompanying rare conditions. The first-person case study of the first author extracted by the second author experienced in qualitative interviewing provides a first-hand account of the importance …

Exploring The Intersection Of Race And Native Speakerism In English Language Teaching: Experiences Of Black African Teachers In Turkey, John Ayodeji Odudele

Linguistics

Research on race and native speaker status in language teaching provides little insight into the experiences of Black African English teachers (BAETs) in the diaspora. To address this gap, this study examines how aspects of BAETs' positionalities - such as race and native speaker status create challenges in their professional and societal lives in Turkey. Data from twelve semi­ structured interviews of BAETs were analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings suggest that race­ related challenges trump language-related ones and that Blackness fundamentally shapes outsiders’ perception and value of BAETs’ linguistic expertise. Even when BAETs possess the same or superior qualifications as …

Benthic Community Composition And Ecosystem Function In Southern Kachemak Bay, Alaska, Jonah Jossart

Marine Biology

The benthic environment in southern Kachemak Bay, Alaska provides critical ecosystem services, processing organic matter from the land and the sea, and returning nutrients to the food web. In Kachemak Bay, concerns have arisen that marine agriculture (mariculture) operations in the form of salmon hatcheries and oyster farms may have negative impacts on the local environment. This thesis investigates the seafloor sediment environment to assess these potential impacts under salmon hatchery net pens in Tutka Bay Lagoon, and under an oyster farm in Jakolof Bay. We found that beneath the net pens, high waste inputs of fish food, feces and …

Investigation Of Dependency Parsing Techniques For Digital Document Analysis Through Deep Learning Approach, Rekah D Ms

Theses and Dissertations

Digital document dependency parsing is a significant task in natural language processing. Dependency parsing supports verification of the grammatical correctness of a sentence besides enabling extraction of relevant documents. Inappropriate extraction of features may result in falsely parsing a document, leading to decreased accuracy. Machine learning methods have been employed to perform feature extraction. However, selecting pertinent features was never achieved which minimizes the time consumption and overhead.

Hence, novel machine learning and deep learning techniques have been designed in our work for accurate and computationally efficient digital document analytics through dependency parsing. Four different contributions have been proposed for …

Bridging Scales In Epidemic Modeling From Individuals To Networks And Ecosystems, Saiprasasd Vr

Theses and Dissertations

Epidemics have shaped the trajectory of human history, repeatedly exposing vulnerabilities in healthcare systems and influencing socio-economic dynamics on a global scale. The COVID-19 pandemic, in particular, underscored the pressing need for flexible and responsive modeling framework capable of adapting to dynamic and evolving epidemic scenarios. Motivated by these challenges, this thesis explores the development of innovative epidemic models that integrate classical mathematical modeling techniques, network-based frameworks, and modern data-driven approaches. Each chapter addresses a distinct dimension of epidemic spread, from vaccination dynamics and community coupling to ecological complexity and adaptive human behavior, culminating in a model-free paradigm suitable for …

Differences In Fitness Between Cadet And General Population Firefighter Academy Recruits, Scott D. Brau, David Cornell, Benjamin J. Mendelson, Rudi A. Marciniak, Kyle Ebersole

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 18(8): 774-793, 2025. This longitudinal study explored entry route- and age-related fitness differences between cadet (CR) and general population (GR) firefighter recruits. Fitness data were collected from eight separate firefighter recruit academy cohorts (N = 317; 122 CR, 195 GR; 27.17 ± 7.58 yrs, 177.30 ± 8.72 cm, 88.65 ± 17.78 kg). In the first week of the academy, recruits completed an assessment battery including: body composition via skinfold measures to estimate body fat (BF, %) and fat-free mass (FFM, kg); aerobic fitness (VO_2peak, mL· kg^-1· min^-1) and …

The Silent Epidemic: Equipment Maintenance Failures And Patient Outcomes In Ghana's Healthcare System, Ramseyer Adekorang Asamoah, Celene Dzreke, Evans Dzreke, David Kanzin

Health & Biomedical Sciences Faculty Publications

Broken tools indicate a broken system. This new study reveals how medical equipment failures destroy Ghana's public hospitals, turning life-saving technologies into silent murderers that disproportionately affect rural areas. Moving beyond technical diagnostics, we study the cascading systemic failures, chronic underfunding, critical staff shortages, and fragmented supply chains that leave 40% of vital equipment, such as ventilators, MRI scanners, and dialysis machines, inoperable at any given time. We quantify the devastating human toll through rigorous mixed-methods analysis of equipment downtime records across ten regional hospitals (2018-2023) and profound narratives from 50 frontline stakeholders, doctors forced to improvise without working incubators, …

Modeling The Effects Of Cyclical Masticatory Forces In A 3d Oral Mucosal Model In Vitro, Samantha Robins, Vehid Salih, Alastair Lomax, Sian Crow, Zoe Brookes, Andrew Foey, Simon A. Whawell

Peninsula Dental School

This study describes the development of a three-dimensional (3D) oral mucosal model (OMM) to investigate how oral tissues respond to masticatory forces. The OMMs replicated key features of human oral mucosa, such as stratified keratinocyte telomerase-immortalized gingival keratinocytes (TIGK) layers and fibroblast-populated collagen matrices. Cyclical mechanical forces (0-10 N) for 2 h applied to the model caused force-dependent changes in the histological structure, including thinning of the epithelium and collagen matrix and cell displacement at higher forces. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) cytotoxicity assays revealed that 10 N forces led to significant cell damage (about 50% cell death) in TIGK monolayers, whereas …

Understanding Salt Stress In Watermelon: Impacts On Plant Performance, Adaptive Solutions, And Future Prospects, Sukhmanjot Kaur, Milena Maria Tomaz De Oliveira, Amita Kaundal

Plants, Soils and Climate Student Research

Soil salinity stress, intensified by extreme weather patterns, significantly threatens global watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum & Nakai] production. Watermelon, a moderately salt-sensitive crop, exhibits reduced germination, stunted growth, and impaired fruit yield and quality under saline conditions. As freshwater resources decline and agriculture’s dependency on irrigation leads to soil salinization, we need sustainable mitigation strategies for food security. Recent advances highlight the potential of using salt-tolerant rootstocks and breeding salt-resistant watermelon varieties as long-term genetic solutions for salinity. Conversely, agronomic interventions such as drip irrigation and soil amendments provide practical, short-term strategies to mitigate the impact of salt …

Master Of Social Work Portfolio, Kyla Wright

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

Identifying all learned ten competencies of social work incorporated into educational settings. Utilizing theoretical practices and an integrated, justified intervention for mental health success.

Master Of Social Work Professional Portfolio, Allison H. Deaver

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

This MSW Portfolio encapsulates my learning journey throughout my MSW program, and includes selected projects which demonstrate critical steps in this journey.

Msw Portfolio, Ryan Murray

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

Capstone Portfolio Presentation of summarization of social work competencies and dimensions tying together scholastic work and practicum experience over the last three years of my MSW program journey.

A Reflection Of An Msw Student, Dylan Vogel

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Msw Portfolio. Finding Purpose: A Journey Toward Meaningful Social Work Practice, Stephanie Altenhof

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

My MSW portfolio demonstrates my professional development through the University of Montana's MSW program using a multi-theoretical orientation. Through practicum experiences at the Alzheimer Society of BC and Coast Care Consulting, the portfolio showcases my mastery of the 10 social work competencies and five elements of advanced integrated practice, with a particular focus on trauma-informed care, rural and Indigenous contexts, and community-centered approaches to social work practice.